Rowlandson the Caricaturist; a Selection from His Works. Vol. 2 by Joseph Grego

by T. Rowlandson.--A scene on a racecourse; the race-horses, led round to be saddled, are seen in the background. A smart young jockey, with his saddle strapped across his own back, and whip in hand, in readiness to begin the race, is receiving the parting instructions of a wily old turfite, who wears a cocked hat, a pigtail, a triple-caped coat, top-boots and spurs. This shrewd trickster is evidently giving his rider certain secret instructions which he would probably not like to hear published abroad on his own authority. The subject of this satire, together with the scandals about the Prince of Wales's horse _Escape_ and his jockey, prove that even in the early days of the Turf its reputation was not immaculate nor its patrons above suspicion.